Tranmere Rovers
An upward trajectory?
By Wes Kirby
October 10 2022
It's easy to get carried away. When we're doing badly people bay for the mangers blood. When we're doing well people seem to think Micky Mellon is a Messiah. However, after 4 successive wins things are looking positive. We still have lots of football to come, there are another 34 League games left.
The top three clubs appear to be maintaining good form. Stevenage, the surprise package, have yet to fade away, and don't look like doing so. Orient have also been pretty faultless. Whilst Northampton have stumbled, they too seem to be keeping a grip on 3rd place. We are a quarter of the way into the season now, so the table is starting to settle down. The top three look solid. Of course, anything can happen.
Dowm at the bottom end of the table things are also taking shape. Crawley are the surprise, occupying bottom spot. However, Rochdale, Harrogate and Hartlepool all seemed to be clubs that were likely to struggle this season. Rovers play Harrogate and Dale in the next few weeks, which could mean they pick up points, but hopefully means we continue our progress.
Of the teams who came down last season Doncaster Rovers appear to be in the strongest position, currently just outside the play offs. Wimbledon & Gillingham have both found it hard to adjust to League 2, whilst Crewe, our opponents on Friday, have yet to put together a consistent run of form. Grimsby, who gained promotion from the National League, have settled into the Division well. Stockport might also be finding their feet, having initially taken time to adjust to playing at this level.
Bradford City, who thumped us a few weeks back, aren't quite living up to their billing as promotion favourites. They suffered a home defeat against Stockport at the weekend and much of their recent success has been down to the scintillating form of Andy Cook. Judging by their performance against us, Salford are in a false position, and Mansfield appear to be copying their pattern of last season. That leaves Carlisle, doing well and probably performing against expectations.
As it stands we sit just outside of the playoff places. Barrow and Swindon occupy the spaces above. They must be putting something in the Cumbrian water supply, like Carlisle, Barrow seem to be exceeding expectations. Swindon, who have just announced they are debt free, should never be written off.
We hit the halfway stage of the season on Boxing Day. It's hard to tell how the next dozen matches will go. If we maintain our current form we should be looking at challenging for the automatic promotion spots by then. On the other hand Tranmere always shock us, and not in a good way. Our current squad are young, and will need to mature quickly if we are to move upwards. Here's hoping.
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10/10/2022 11:45
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January 2015 - Micky Adams had been in charge for about 3 months and seemed to be doing a decent enough job to steer us away from the dreaded drop out of the footy league after Rob Edwards disastrous short tenure, Adams was nominated for manager of the month in the December, then it all went horribly wrong and we all know how that season ended.
January 2019 - The month started off with that 0-7 defeat at home to Spurs in FA Cup and in the league we were off the pace in 10th place, then Micky and the boys went on a brilliant run of results and we ended the season getting promoted at Wembley vs Newport.
January 2022 - 2nd in the table, behind FGR, and looking a good bet for automatic promotion, then spectacularly fell away and didnt even make the play offs.
What is it with Rovers and the month of January? is it that Santa had been a miserly b*stard at xmas, is it the January transfer window? Is it something in the January air? Or is it something else?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:10:10:14:08:08 by hong kong rover.
Quote:johnoshackers
Call me an old fool but I’m so confident that we will be in the top 3 come the end of the season…that if we don’t I’ll eat Phil 65’s hat ..
Euphoria can impact people significantly.
Proper worried for my hat now and it’s a survivor! Your thoughts should turn to condiments and a suitable tipple to wash it down!
If we finish in the top three I’ll eat my hat, with a starter of my match socks and lucky underpants for dessert!
Enjoy our current trajectory……while it lasts!
Well Janus is the month with two faces one looking forward and the other backward. Hopefully come the New Year we will still be going forward and will stay that way for the rest of the season
The second half of the season with injuries and suspensions tests the depth of a squad . We look ok at the moment but as the Papa John game showed the depth is not great. Quality rather than numbers may be important for signings and departures on the next window
Quote:Phil65Quote:johnoshackers
Call me an old fool but I’m so confident that we will be in the top 3 come the end of the season…that if we don’t I’ll eat Phil 65’s hat ..
Euphoria can impact people significantly.
Proper worried for my hat now and it’s a survivor! Your thoughts should turn to condiments and a suitable tipple to wash it down!
If we finish in the top three I’ll eat my hat, with a starter of my match socks and lucky underpants for dessert!
Enjoy our current trajectory……while it lasts!
I’ve got my indigestion tablets at the ready…Just in case ..
Let’s hope we don’t need them 😊
